Mexico Takes Back Offer to Help for Harvey Victims

On Monday, Mexico announced it was withdrawing its offer to send relief to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

As Harvey hit Texas last month, the Mexican government offered food, beds, generators, mobile kitchens and doctors. No formal American response was made to the offer.

On Thursday, an 8.1 earthquake struck southern Mexico, killing 96 people and causing a crisis impacting about 2.5 million people. Adding to the nation’s woes, Hurricane Katia hit the Gulf Coast of Mexico, causing flooding and stretching emergency services even thinner.

“Given these circumstance, the Mexican government will channel all available logistical support to serve the families and communities affected in the national territory,” the Mexican foreign ministry statement said.

The ministry said the U.S. had taken nine days to respond to Mexico’s offer and that “only certain logistical aid” was ever accepted.

Although government aid never arrived, Mexico’s volunteer Red Cross sent food and supplies to storm victims.

That assistance, however, has been overshadowed by political differences between Mexico and the U.S.

For example, former Mexican president Vicente Fox tweeted that President Donald Trump’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program was “on the top of the vilest acts” Trump has ever “pulled off.”

“You’re destroying the legacy of greater men before you,” Fox wrote.

“It is the worst action you have ever done against the ones that cannot defend themselves,” he said in a separate video. “This measure is cruel and heartless, worse than any machine.”

Trump also criticized Mexico on trade issues.

With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other.